SHARK! MEGALODON Exhibit Coming to Bishop Museum This Fall
Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years—about 200 million years before dinosaurs even existed. It’s no wonder people the world over continue to be fascinated by these extraordinary ancient creatures of the sea. With the support of the National Science Foundation, the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, Florida, has created Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived, an exciting new traveling exhibition that highlights the evolution, biology and misconceptions regarding giant prehistoric sharks. This fun and fascinating exhibit will be coming to Honolulu in October 11, 2008 through January 11, 2009 for a three-month run in Bishop Museum’s Castle Memorial Building.
The exhibit Honolulu’s debut will be sponsored in part by Wodehouse Trust and Horizon Lines Inc. Regular admission will apply, except on Family Sunday, November 16, 2008, when discounted admissions are offered to Hawaii residents and Military.
Related to the modern great white and mako sharks, the 60-foot-long Megalodon lived worldwide until it became extinct 2 million years ago. Megalodon’s beautiful fossil teeth are highly prized by collectors and have been found in many parts of the world, including Europe, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Malta, and India. It is among the most highly studied prehistoric sharks in the world. As unique as it was, so, too, is the exhibit that tells the story of this enormous creature. This exhibit conveys current research findings of University of Florida paleontologists and showcases both fossil and modern shark specimens and full-scale models from several collections. Learn about the process of science and shark conservation. Walk through a sculpture of a 60-foot long Megalodon. Find out what it ate, its size and structure, how long it lived, who its neighbors were, how it evolved, and why it became extinct.
Megalodon: Largest Shark That Ever Lived will also provide details on improving the health of our oceans and the survival of threatened species. Recent worldwide declines are attributed to commercial and sport over-fishing. Scientists estimate humans kill 100 million sharks, skates, and rays each year, and the life history of most shark species makes it difficult for populations to rebound. For those wondering why we need sharks, Megalodon, the exhibit, asks guests to consider the marine food web domino effect caused by over-fishing.
Other parts of the exhibit will describe how this animal continues to fascinate many, elevating Megalodon to near cult status. From biker jackets to postage stamps, the exhibit explains the many ways Megalodon remains part of human culture through art, literature, music, and film.
For more information about Megalodon: Largest Shark That Ever Lived, call (808) 847-3511 or visit www.bishopmuseum.org.
Some Fun Facts about Sharks:
Megalodon vanished 2 million years ago, but when cruising the oceans, it was king. Megalodon had 46 front row teeth, 24 in the upper jaw and 22 in the lower. Most sharks have at least 6 rows of teeth, so a Megalodon had about 276 teeth at any given time. Megalodon was about 60 feet long with a body mass of 77 tons. Some scientists estimate that Megalodon ate about 2, 500 pounds of food every day, including whales and other large fish. Megalodon lived throughout most of the ancient world’s oceans, from 17 to 2 million years ago. Ancient people collected Megalodon teeth and traditional legends feature giant sharks.
Sharks have been around for more than 400 million years, existing about 200 million years before dinosaurs. There are more than 375 species of sharks living today.
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